Earlier this year, Black Label Trading Co. announced a new core line to their portfolio; Coffin Nails. Coming in at the petite corona size, the Coffin Nails promised to deliver full flavor in a small package. This is something that a lot of cigars have “promised” over the years. Cigar smokers, especially those who live in areas with extreme heat or cold, are always on the lookout for these quicker smoking experiences that will still provide them with the flavor and strength they get from larger sizes. In my experience, a robusto is typically the smallest I’ll go. Will the Coffin Nails change my mind?Â
OVERVIEW
VITOLA:Â Â Petite Corona
SIZE:Â Â 5″ x 40
ORIGIN:Â Â Nicaragua
FACTORY:  Fábrica Oveja Negra
WRAPPER:Â Â Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
BINDER:Â Â Honduras
FILLER:Â Â Honduras & Nicaragua
STRENGTH:Â Â Full
SOURCE:Â Â Â
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:Â Â
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:Â Â
October 1 @3pm
DRINKS:Â Â
Bottled Water
WEATHER:Â Â
Indoors
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:Â Â
5
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Â Regular Release
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE Â August ’24
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size:Â Â Â Boxes of 10
Production Totals:Â Unknown
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o  Petite Corona (5″ x 40)
BAND DESIGN
The band is black with silver accents. It features “Coffin Nails” and “Black Label Trading Co.” prominently displayed on it. It’s simple and elegant, while maintaining the overall “spooky” branding. The boxes catch your eye with the coffin adorned with a skull. Simple, but effective.
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The Ecuadorian habano maduro wrapper is a very dark chocolate shade of brown. It is smooth to the touch, save for when my finger rolls over a vein. One of the cigars smoked for this review had a vein that went the length of the cigar. The wrapper is toothy and has an oily sheen that glimmers when the light hits it just right.
AROMA
The wrapper gives off a slight hint of barnyard, but you have to search for it. The foot has a musty note, followed by notes of bread, fruit, sweet tobacco, and barnyard.
COLD DRAW
There is a slight sweetness that comes from the cold draw. It has a fruity quality to it, but that’s all. I’m surprised there wasn’t more to the cold draw.
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut:Â Xikar VX2 V-Cutter
Fire:Â Vektor SONICPUMP
The initial light is notes of chocolate, leather, citrus, and baking spices. Black pepper rules the retrohale. A sweet chocolate lingers on my palate. It’s accompanied by an earthy mushroom note and a touch of red pepper.
SMOKE
The smoke is creamy and satisfying. A good amount of smoke is produced with each draw It coats my palate evenly and has a pleasant mouthfeel.
FIRST THIRD
>> Wood, Citrus, Chocolate, Black Pepper
Wood, baking spices, leather, and chocolate is how the first third of the Coffin Nails begins. Black pepper on the retrohale. The sweetness of the chocolate lingers on my palate. There is an earthy quality to the Coffin Nails that adds depth to the profile. There is a note of citrus cutting through the rich notes of earth, wood, and chocolate. The ash is white with streaks of black. There isn’t a flake to be seen. The burn line is sharp. Coffee, Cedar, and nuts now. Chocolate holding it all together. A salty, mineral note comes forward but doesn’t overpower the others. It disappears as quickly as it appeared.
SECOND THIRD
>> Coffee, Red Pepper Flake, Chocolate, Black Pepper
The middle third begins with notes of red pepper flake, baking spices, coffee, and chocolate. Black pepper on the retrohale. Sweet cream, honey, and salted nuts round out big notes. The smoke is creamy and unctuous. The ash is still compact and the burn line is almost perfect. Citrus returns to add a bright finish. The dominant flavors continue to be wood, chocolate, and earth, but there is complexity to the Coffin Nails that transcends these dominant flavors. Cream, a hint of honey, baking spices and red pepper flake bring the Coffin Nails flavor profile to life. Charred wood, baking spices, and the rich sweetness of caramel take over. Coffee and chocolate rude in the undercurrent. A smooth note of avocado oil joins the fray.
FINAL THIRD
>> Espresso, Charred Wood, Avocado Oil, Black Pepper
The final third begins with notes of coffee, baking spices, avocado oil, and salted nuts. The sweetness is still there, but it’s less chocolate and more honey. Big notes of black pepper on the retrohale. Wood and red pepper on the finish, clawing at the back of my throat. The ash is still beautiful and compact. The burn line is still sharp. Espresso, charred wood, star anise, and red pepper now. Wood and chocolate on the finish. Sweet, salty, spicy…all in perfect balance.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
The Coffin Nails is a creamy, sweet and peppery experience from start to finish. As with most smaller vitolas, the tasting notes from third to third are fairly similar. However, the Coffin Nails flavors are nuanced and complex. Giving an experience more like a larger vitola would. Chocolate to caramel; caramel to honey; honey to chocolate; wood to coffee; coffee to charred wood; charred wood to espresso. Throw in some baking spices, avocado oil, and pepper notes and what you have is a nuanced and complex cigar.
BURN EXPERIENCE
Sharp burn lines and compact ash speak to the construction of the Coffin Nails. A razor sharp burn meant there were no relights or touchups. In fact, there was never really a wonky burn line. The ash was compact and never flakey. The Coffin Nails provided one of the nicest burn experiences I’ve had in recent memory.
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80Â / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.43/ 0.50 …Â Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Lighting Process
7.14Â / 7.70 …Â Smoking Experience
0.49Â / 0.50 …Â Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- The Coffin Nails construction stood out as one of the best in recent memory.
- Complex and nuanced flavors packed into a smaller vitola.
- Why does it have to be so small??? Give me crucifix nails!!
NAILED IT!
When I start whining that the cigar experience isn’t long enough, you know that I really really like a cigar. The Coffin Nails provided a full flavored experience, while still being a smooth smoke. The flavors in the Coffin Nails might seem straightforward, if not pedestrian, but when you pay attention to this cigar it gives you complexities and nuance that are hard to find in smaller vitolas. It is a well balanced cigar experience that comes in at anywhere from 35min to just under an hour, depending on how fast you smoke. I would encourage you to slow down and take your time with the Coffin Nails. You will not be disappointed.Â
